Jones Maintains Positive Vibe

WEST FORK POST BLOCKS OUT THE BAD, KEEPS TEAMMATES LOOSE

West Fork junior post Melissa Jones has been a leader on and off the court this season for the Lady Tigers, who are set to play Lamar today in the Class 3A Region 1 Tournament for a chance at a berth in the Class 3A State Tournament.
West Fork junior post Melissa Jones has been a leader on and off the court this season for the Lady Tigers, who are set to play Lamar today in the Class 3A Region 1 Tournament for a chance at a berth in the Class 3A State Tournament.

— When times get tough, West Fork’s Melissa Jones doesn’t get frazzled about the situation.

She doesn’t get nervous or even fear possible scenarios, she simply puts a smile on her face and attempts to crack jokes.

For the junior post, that’s the kind of person she likes to be, always focusing on the light-hearted situations instead of something bad.

“When we’re playing a game and things aren’t going right, I always try to say something funny in the huddle,” said Jones, who moved to Arkansas from Michigan when she was in the eighth grade. “Usually it gets my teammates going in the right direction, it takes our mind off the bad stuff and we forget about it.”

PROFILE

Melissa Jones

SCHOOL: West Fork

POSITION: Post

CLASS: Junior

HEIGHT: 5-foot-10

NOTABLE: Jones has excelled for the Lady Tigers this season, averaging 16 points and eight rebounds per game. ... She’s improved her ball-handling skills and her ability to drive the lane and score open layups. ... She first started playing basketball in the seventh grade while living in Michigan. She moved to Arkansas in the eighth grade, where she’s been ever since.

Jones’ nonstop positive attitude has served her well in her two years at West Fork, which will play Lamar in the Class 3A Region 1 Tournament at 4 p.m. Thursday in Charleston. It’s not only allowed her to become a better player, but it’s made her one of the Lady Tigers’ biggest team leaders, said Nathan Wells, West Fork girls basketball coach.

“(Jones) is the type of kid that can take any situation and make it a good one,” Wells said. “She’s a pleasure to have on this team and her teammates just love having her around. She’s definitely made us a better basketball team.”

As a sophomore, Jones routinely came off the bench in games and contributed by using her slender 5-foot-10 frame to block shots and grab loose rebounds.

This season, however, Jones has started every game for West Fork, averaging 16 points and eight rebounds per game to help the Lady Tigers win 20 games.

Wells said despite Jones’ lack of size, she’s one of the most physical players he’s ever coached because of her determination to make big plays.

“Some teams come into a game and think they can rebound all over here, but that’s never the case,” Wells said. “They find out really quick that she’s tough and that she’s going to be physical underneath the basket.”

Jones’ biggest improvement throughout the last year as been her ball handling, specifically her ability to dribble, she said. She’s also practiced midrange jump shots and driving to the basket, she said.

“For me it’s always been a work in progress,” Jones said. “I know I’m not reaching my total potential, so I have to keep working hard and doing the little things to help my team win games. If I stay focused and listen to my coaches at practice, I know I’ll get better everyday.”

Wells said he’s excited to see what Jones can continue improving upon in the future.

“She’s so talented in so many ways,” Wells said. “I don’t think she’s touched her full potential, so it’s going to be exciting for this program to get her back as a senior next season.”

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